Match Preview: Asante Kotoko vs Liberty Professionals

There’s plenty to play for between Asante Kotoko and Liberty Professionals on Sunday in a Match Week 7 fixture that promises a nail-biting experience for both teams.

Asante Kotoko will aim at building on their away win against bitterest rivals Hearts of Oak last Sunday. The Porcupine Warriors lost their last home game against Chelsea and Coach Maxwell Konadu will be eager for them to start right and do the damage to Liberty early on in the game.

Liberty Professionals also have a record to protect when they travel to Kumasi to face the Porcupine Warriors. The Scientific Soccer Lads are unbeaten in their away games played this season. They have recorded 2 wins and a draw. Coach David Ocloo’s side beat both Dwarfs and WAFA 2-1 on the road while drawing 0-0 with Berekum Chelsea at the Berekum Golden City Park. They will be all geared up for this match.

Definitely this serves an exciting fixture with both teams capable of turning the tide in their favor but trust Kotoko to make this a laborious one for their visitors. The game will be played behind closed doors as part of GFA imposed sanctions on Asante Kotoko.

TEAM NEWS:

Mudasiru Salifu and Sogne Yacouba both sit out of this game for Kotoko. Mudasiru, due to injury won’t be available for at least the next six weeks, while Coach Maxwell Konadu has opted to leave Yacouba out once again as his contract issues remain unresolved.

Liberty Coach David Ocloo has the option of maintaining his squad in their away trip to AFA which ended victorious.

MATCH FACTS:

Since 2006, Liberty Professionals have beaten Kotoko just once in 11 away trips to Kumasi.

The record for Kotoko in those 11 games stands at 8 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat.

That defeat came in May 2011 when the Scientific Soccer Lads outscored the Porcupine warriors narrowly in a 5 goal thriller.

Of the 8 wins secured over Liberty at home, 5 of them have come with clean sheets.

The overall record since 2006 stands at 13 wins for Kotoko, 5 wins for Liberty and 5 draws.

Kotoko have on 4 of the last 5 home matches against Liberty Professionals.

Liberty Professionals have scored in 3 of their last 5 visits to Kumasi to face Kotoko.

Kotoko have scored in all of their last 11 home matches against Liberty Professionals.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Bashiru Dauda

Asst 1: Alhassan Abdulai

Asst 2: Seidu Dauda

4th Ref: Mohammed Misbau

M/C: Mark Koudua